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As the population of international students in Canada continues to grow, educators, experts and others say that English-language fluency remains a challenge. A recent report finds that part of the problem could be the Test Of English as a Foreign Language, which largely assesses students' written skills when much of what they will need in school is oral abilities. Some, however, say international students have access to the language resources they need.

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Teachers should target reading, writing, speaking and listening skills to help English-language learners -- and all students -- build their vocabulary and fluency, educator JoyLynn Nesbitt writes in this blog post. She shares four ideas such as giving students question guides to facilitate discussions.

Toru Nakahara, superintendent of the Osaka, Japan, Prefectural Board of Education, says he learned through studying in the US that without an understanding of the English language, Japan's students would be limited. He and other leaders now are driving a push to increase English-language lessons in schools. "As educators, we have to give our students two tickets: one to get them to international universities outside of Japan and the other for domestic universities. I want to give them a choice", he said.

In California -- where about 25% of the student population are English-language learners -- officials are working to align their English-language development standards with the Common Core State Standards. The state recently released standards by grade level, and officials hope to have them approved by the end of the summer, following a period for public comment.

The dropout rate among Boston's English-language learners has nearly doubled in the six years since Massachusetts approved a law requiring educators to teach English-language learners in English rather than in their native language, according to a report. The English-only classes have not helped students improve their English, the report's data indicate, and have left some worse off.

The dropout rate among Boston's English-language learners has nearly doubled in the six years since Massachusetts approved a law requiring educators to teach English-language learners in English rather than in their native language, according to a report. The English-only classes have not helped students improve their English, the report's data indicate, and have left some worse off.